Hazel (Wells) Stoops, 92, of 2735 Luther Drive, Chambersburg, Pa., died Tuesday at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at the Inn in Luther Ridge Retirement Village.
She was born on June 12, 1920, in Lock Haven, Pa. She was born June 12, 1920, into the small family of Jacob P. Krape, owner of the 103 acre farm on which the family lived in Nittany Valley, Lockhaven, Pa. Her parents were Charles E. and Clara (Krape) Wells. She attended Lock Haven High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Education degree from Lock Haven State Teachers College. (Now: Lock Haven University)
Through the influence of co-workers and Dr. Ethel A. Brindle, from Waynesboro Chiropractic, Hazel moved to Mont Alto, Pa., and joined the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Waynesboro, Pa.
While working at the Tuberculosis Sanatorium at South Mountain, Pa., Mrs. Stoops was offered an opportunity to attend graduate school at Bryn Mawr College, where she earned a Master of Social Science Degree in 1946. Immediately afterward, she developed, and led a class at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Waynesboro, focused upon community needs and solutions. Direct influence of this class resulted in the presentation of agency problems which led to the identification and need for broader outreach by churches.
Dr. Ethel Brindle also introduced Hazel and Allen Stoops of Waynesboro, Pa. They were married on Oct. 17, 1953, in Nittany Valley, Mill Hall, Pa., in the Lutheran Church to which the bride belonged.
Hazel Stoops was known to enjoy music, especially classical. She had quite an extensive recording collection. Hazel avidly followed the news and politics on TV. She and her husband enjoyed Alabama and Florida, visiting often in an effort to escape cold Pennsylvania winter months. Hazel was proud of her husband's conversational skills.
She is survived by a nephew, by marriage, Lee Stoops from Greencastle, Pa., and distant cousins, Joan Stredler from Hemet, Calif., and Mara Lena Corter from Raleigh, N.C., and friend, Anne Dudley, Arendtsville, Pa.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Allen Stoops, who passed away May 17, 2001.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 5, 2013, in the Fleck Center located at Luther Ridge Retirement Community, 2735 Luther Drive, Chambersburg, officiated by Rev. Dennis Beaver.
Burial will be private at Mount Zion Cemetery, Quincy, Pa.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lutheran Home Care and Hospice, Inc., 2700 Luther Drive, Chambersburg, Pa. 17202.
Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, Waynesboro, is handling the arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at:
www.bowersoxfuneralhomes.com